Marriage conversion is a practical measure. That answers nothing as to how one spiritually, philosophically, or however you want to phrase it, chooses.
As for converts versus those born into it, converts are by definition people who want to be there, or at some point choose to be there. Others, even the ones who end up liking it, are initially forced.
certainly conversion as a result of marriage is practical but that does not mean it is not a spiritual or philosophical decision as well..after all conversion because of marriage is not required to have a marriage sanctioned by the catholic church
my father is episcopalian and never converted to my mother’s catholicism and for him not to was just as spiritual as it was practical. I just don’t think that you can remove the spiritual nature of the choice just because it may also be a practical one...especially if one considers that perhaps the convert started dating the catholic for spiritual reasons
My father-in-law, raised a Protestant, was brought to Catholic faith through my mother-in-law. She told him she wouldn’t marry him if he didn’t enter the Church. He took a year to think about it, traveling the country, reading, praying, exploring. He came to truly believe in the truth of Catholic faith. And then married my mother-in-law. And had my wife!
But he was a man of deep, to-the-bone integrity, and only came into the Church because he became unalterably convinced of its truth.
He was a very, very devout Catholic.
There is no question that God can draw people to His Church through many means, including through romantic love.
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